TELL YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY SYMBICORT SIDE EFFECTS
While taking SYMBICORT, never use any other medicines containing a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA), such as formoterol or salmeterol, for any reason.
CLICK HERE to discover a different asthma treatment from the makers of SYMBICORT.
SYMBICORT COULD HELP YOU BREATHE BETTER—STARTING WITHIN 15 MINUTES.*
For asthma patients 12 years of age and older... SEE APPROVED USES
For asthma patients 12 years of age and older... SEE APPROVED USES
SYMBICORT will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms.
*Your results may vary.
If you have asthma, you are not alone — about 25 million Americans suffer from this disease
Living with Asthma: How SYMBICORT may help
If you have asthma, you are not alone -- about 25 million Americans suffer from this disease
Learn more about how SYMBICORT can help
Learn more about how SYMBICORT can help
About SYMBICORT
For asthma patients 12 years of age and older...
For asthma patients 12 years of age and older...
SYMBICORT is a controller medication that helps control asthma by reducing inflammation in the lungs and keeping airways open[*]
There are 2 types of treatments used to reduce asthma symptoms: controller and quick-relief (rescue) medicines:
- Controller medicines, such as SYMBICORT, are taken every day over a long period of time to help reduce the inflammation in the airways of your lungs and keep airways open
- Rescue medicines, such as rescue inhalers, are taken to help relieve asthma symptoms immediately
SYMBICORT will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms
SYMBICORT will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms
[*]^Your results may vary.
SYMBICORT contains 2 medicines that work together to control asthma by helping to ease constriction and reduce inflammation in the airways:
ICS (anti-inflammatory)
An ICS called budesonide helps reduce inflammation in the lungs.
LABA (bronchodilator)
A LABA (long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist) called formoterol fumarate can help relax the smooth muscles around the airways in the lungs, reducing some symptoms.
ICS (anti-inflammatory)
An ICS called budesonide helps reduce inflammation in the lungs.
LABA (bronchodilator)
A LABA (long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist) called formoterol fumarate can help relax the smooth muscles around the airways in the lungs, reducing some symptoms.
When taken as prescribed—twice a day (morning and evening), every day—SYMBICORT has been shown to:
HELP CONTROL YOUR ASTHMA SYMPTOMS, AND YOU MAY NOTICE YOU USE LESS RESCUE MEDICATION
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE LUNG FUNCTION, STARTING WITHIN 15 MINUTES*
HELP CONTROL YOUR ASTHMA SYMPTOMS, AND YOU MAY NOTICE YOU USE LESS RESCUE MEDICATION
* ^ Your results may vary.
Remember, SYMBICORT will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms.
Learn more about how SYMBICORT can help
- It’s important to remember that SYMBICORT is a controller medication, so while you may notice an improvement in your breathing over time, you should still continue to take SYMBICORT
- You may also find that you need to use your rescue inhaler less when taking SYMBICORT properly, but this doesn’t mean that SYMBICORT should replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms
- Once your asthma is well controlled, your doctor will decide if you can stop taking SYMBICORT without loss of control and may prescribe a long-term asthma control medicine such as an inhaled corticosteroid
Maintaining an open conversation about your asthma treatment plan with your doctor on a regular basis over time is key to managing your symptoms
If you are experiencing symptoms, it’s very important to talk to your doctor and receive the correct treatment. If left uncontrolled, your symptoms may get worse over time.
Your doctor may prescribe a controller medication such as SYMBICORT if:
- You are over 6 years of age and your asthma is not well controlled with a long-term asthma control medicine; or
- You are over 6 years of age and your asthma is severe enough to begin treatment with SYMBICORT
SYMBICORT is not and will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms.
BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Make a list of all your symptoms, all the medications you’re taking and any side effects you may be experiencing. Write down what you want your doctor to know about you—your day-to-day routine, your occupation and other activities you enjoy participating in. All of these could play a role in determining the right treatment for you.
DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT
- Be open about any anxiety or concerns you may have—the more you tell your doctor, the more they will be able to help you
- Describe your symptoms, when they occur and how bad they are
- List all your medicines, including vitamins and supplements
- List any other health issues you may have
- Ask if SYMBICORT may be right for you
Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something your doctor tells you.
AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT
If you are prescribed SYMBICORT, use it as your doctor instructed. Keep track of your symptoms and how you’re feeling. Be sure to write down any side effects and let your doctor know how you’re doing.
Remember, SYMBICORT is not—and will not replace—a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms.
Taking SYMBICORT
Information about using the SYMBICORT inhaler
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Taking SYMBICORT
For asthma patients 12 years of age and older...
For asthma patients 12 years of age and older...
It’s important that you don’t miss a dose or take more doses than prescribed. SYMBICORT will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms.
To use SYMBICORT effectively:
2 PUFFS OF SYMBICORT
TWICE A DAY, EVERY DAY
-
MORNING
-
EVENING
Take 2 puffs of SYMBICORT in the morning and 2 puffs in the evening, every day
Do not take more than 4 puffs per day
Do not use more than twice a day
Your inhaler should last you 30 days if you are taking 2 puffs twice a day
Use the actuation counter to monitor your doses
Do not take more than 4 puffs per day
Do not use more than twice a day
Your inhaler should last you 30 days if you are taking 2 puffs twice a day
Use the actuation counter to monitor your doses
Questions?
Talk to your doctor or contact one of our nurses.
CALL 1-800-236-9933,
MONDAY–FRIDAY, 8 AM–8 PM ET
Questions?
Talk to your doctor or contact one of our nurses.
CALL 1-800-236-9933, MONDAY–FRIDAY, 8 AM–8 PM ET
Learn more about how SYMBICORT can help
Before starting SYMBICORT, read the Instructions for Use that comes with your prescription. If you have any questions about the directions, ask your health care provider.
Take your SYMBICORT inhaler out of the foil pouch and write the date on the box. If you are using your inhaler for the first time, you need to prime it.
TO PRIME YOUR INHALER:
- Hold it in the upright position as shown
- Shake your inhaler well for 5 seconds
- Remove the mouthpiece cover by squeezing gently at both sides, then pulling out
- Hold the inhaler facing away from you, and release a test spray
- Shake it again for 5 seconds and release a second test spray
If you do not use your SYMBICORT inhaler for more than 7 days or if you drop it, you will need to prime it again.
Counter
Canister inside
Inhaler
Mouthpiece
Strap
Mouthpiece cover
“Symbicort Budesonide160 mcg/ formoterol fumarate dihydrate 4.5mcg inhalation Aerosol 120 inhalation AstraZeneca (80/4.5) contain below parts: - A mouthpiece through which medicine is dispensed - Mouthpiece cover is a cap that goes over the mouthpiece - The mouthpiece is attached to the inhaler by the strap. - A canister inside the inhaler which is used for dispensing doses of medicine from a container - Counter which tracks the count of dose left”
Shake your inhaler well for 5 seconds. Remove the mouthpiece cover by squeezing gently at both sides, then pulling out. Check the mouthpiece for foreign objects.
Breathe out fully (exhale). Hold the inhaler up to your mouth. Place the white mouthpiece fully into your mouth and close your lips around it. Make sure that the inhaler is upright and that the opening of the mouthpiece is pointing toward the back of your throat.
Breathe in (inhale) deeply and slowly through your mouth. Press down firmly and fully on the top of the counter on the inhaler to release the medicine.
Continue to breathe in (inhale) and then hold your breath for about 10 seconds, or for as long as it is comfortable. Before you breathe out (exhale), release your finger from the top of the counter. Keep your inhaler upright and remove it from your mouth.
Shake your inhaler again for 5 seconds and repeat steps 2 to 4.
STEP 1
Shake your inhaler well for 5 seconds. Remove the mouthpiece cover by squeezing gently at both sides, then pulling out. Check the mouthpiece for foreign objects.
STEP 2
Breathe out fully (exhale). Hold the inhaler up to your mouth. Place the white mouthpiece fully into your mouth and close your lips around it. Make sure that the inhaler is upright and that the opening of the mouthpiece is pointing toward the back of your throat.
STEP 3
Breathe in (inhale) deeply and slowly through your mouth. Press down firmly and fully on the top of the counter on the inhaler to release the medicine.
STEP 4
Continue to breathe in (inhale) and then hold your breath for about 10 seconds, or for as long as it is comfortable. Before you breathe out (exhale), release your finger from the top of the counter. Keep your inhaler upright and remove it from your mouth.
STEP 5
Shake your inhaler again for 5 seconds and repeat steps 2 to 4.
After using your SYMBICORT inhaler:
- Put the cover back on
- Rinse your mouth with water and spit it out
- Don’t swallow the water
Reading the actuation counter
The actuation counter on top of the inhaler helps to monitor the amount of medication remaining and helps you know when to refill your prescription. The arrow points to the number of inhalations, or puffs remaining. Here’s how to read it:
Reading the actuation counter
The actuation counter on top of the inhaler helps to monitor the amount of medication remaining and helps you know when to refill your prescription. The arrow points to the number of inhalations, or puffs remaining. Here’s how to read it:
- After you have primed the inhaler for the first time, the counter will read either 120 or 60, depending on which size was provided to you
- Each time you release a puff from the inhaler, the counter will count down
- When the arrow gets close to 20, you will notice the beginning of the yellow zone, indicating that it is time to call for a refill
- Discard the inhaler when the arrow points to the red zone and reads zero (0), or 3 months after it is taken out of its pouch, whichever comes first
- Your inhaler may not feel empty and may continue to operate, but you will not get the right amount of medicine if you keep using it
Get the most from your medication by taking it exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
You can do this by:
- Keeping your inhaler in a place that will remind you to use it
- Keeping track of the number of doses of SYMBICORT remaining in your inhaler so you’ll know when to refill your prescription
Remember:
- Use SYMBICORT twice a day, morning and evening
- While taking SYMBICORT, never use another medicine that contains a LABA (long-acting beta2‐adrenergic agonist)
- SYMBICORT is not, and will not replace, a rescue inhaler for symptoms that suddenly become worse. Contact your doctor if these symptoms do not improve or if they become more severe
If You Have Any Questions About Using Your Inhaler, Talk To Your Doctor Or Call Our Nurse Hotline: 1-800-236-9933, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–8 PM ET.
If You Have Any Questions About Using Your Inhaler, Talk To Your Doctor Or
Call Our Nurse Hotline: 1-800-236-9933, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–8 PM ET.
- You should clean the white mouthpiece of the SYMBICORT inhaler every 7 days
- Remove the gray mouthpiece cover by squeezing gently at both sides, then pulling out
- Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe the inside and outside of the white mouthpiece
- When you are finished cleaning the mouthpiece, place the cover back over the mouthpiece
NOTE: Never put your SYMBICORT inhaler into water. Do not try to take the inhaler apart.
- Throw away SYMBICORT when the counter reads zero (0) or 3 months after you take SYMBICORT out of its foil pouch, whichever comes first
- Your SYMBICORT inhaler may not feel empty and it may continue to operate, but you will not get the right amount of medicine if you keep using it
- Never immerse the canister into water to try and determine the amount of medicine remaining (“float test”)
text
SYMBICORT Side Effects
For asthma patients 12 years of age and older...
For asthma patients 12 years of age and older...
It’s important to be aware and tell your doctor if you have any side effects. SYMBICORT doesn’t interact well with certain medicines, so you should tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
The most common side effects of SYMBICORT include:
- THROAT IRRITATION
- UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION
- INFLAMMATION OF MUCOUS MEMBRANES OF THE SINUSES (sinusitis)
- BACK PAIN
- STOMACH DISCOMFORT
- THRUSH IN THE MOUTH AND THROAT—RINSE YOUR MOUTH WITH WATER WITHOUT SWALLOWING AFTER USE TO HELP PREVENT THRUSH
- HEADACHE
- THROAT PAIN
- FLU
- NASAL CONGESTION
- VOMITING
- THROAT IRRITATION
- UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION
- INFLAMMATION OF MUCOUS MEMBRANES OF THE SINUSES (sinusitis)
- BACK PAIN
- STOMACH DISCOMFORT
- THRUSH IN THE MOUTH AND THROAT—RINSE YOUR MOUTH WITH WATER WITHOUT SWALLOWING AFTER USE TO HELP PREVENT THRUSH
- HEADACHE
- THROAT PAIN
- FLU
- NASAL CONGESTION
- VOMITING
- THROAT IRRITATION
- UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION
- INFLAMMATION OF MUCOUS MEMBRANES OF THE SINUSES (sinusitis)
- BACK PAIN
- STOMACH DISCOMFORT
- THRUSH IN THE MOUTH AND THROAT—RINSE YOUR MOUTH WITH WATER WITHOUT SWALLOWING AFTER USE TO HELP PREVENT THRUSH
- HEADACHE
- THROAT PAIN
- FLU
- NASAL CONGESTION
- VOMITING
Ask your doctor if SYMBICORT may be right for you
You should also tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or suffer from high blood pressure. SYMBICORT can also cause other serious side effects, such as increased blood pressure, increases in heart rate, and changes in heart rhythm.
These are not all the possible side effects of SYMBICORT. You can find a detailed list of side effects in the full Prescribing Information. You can also ask your health care professional for more information.
If you are switching to SYMBICORT from an oral corticosteroid, follow your doctor’s instructions to avoid health risks when you stop using oral corticosteroids.
SYMBICORT doesn’t interact well with certain medicines, so tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you are taking, especially any of the following:
- Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants
- Beta-blockers
- Diuretics
Avoid exposure to infections such as chickenpox or measles. Tell your doctor immediately if you’ve been exposed and think you are at risk.
Do not use SYMBICORT more than twice a day
See your health care provider right away if your asthma gets worse with SYMBICORT
SYMBICORT doesn’t interact well with certain medicines, so tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you are taking, especially any of the following:
- Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants
- Beta-blockers
- Diuretics
Avoid exposure to infections such as chicken pox or measles. Tell your doctor immediately if you’ve been exposed and think you are at risk.
Do not use SYMBICORT more than twice a day
See your health care provider right away if your asthma gets worse with SYMBICORT